FMS Wrestlers Keep on Winning with Shut Out of MMA

Report by Coach Chiarolanzio

Last night the Caissons Wrestling Team faced Randolph Macon Academy, Grace Christian School, and closed out their home opener with Massanutten Military Academy. All three opposing teams came with out the team depth that the Caissons boast and so had an uphill battle right from the get go. And it was a battle they would not win.

The night opened with the Caissons facing RMA. RMA brought several experienced wrestlers from last season along with some new talent and came to FMS hoping to give some  pay back after taking it on the chin a few times from the Caissons last season; but this night would be no different as the Caissons took to the mat with fire and desire to open the duel match season on the right foot. It took a few matches to really get rolling but when the Caissons did get rolling they ROLLED  The Final Team Score FMS 51  RMA 30. Big wins came from Farrell, B., Allen, B, Norris, Park, and Blackburn. 

The Second match of the night was with Grace Christian School, which is only a second year program but is showing improvement. Grace was only able to  fill 6 weight classes so were out-matched right from the start. The final team score was FMS 70 – GCS 9

Then the last match of the night was the one the Caissons were waiting for…the match up with Rival MMA.  This was to be a show down with the final military school in VA, as FMUA and HMA were both behind FMS at this past weekend’s Tiger Classic won by the Caissons.

This was the gem match of the night. The Caissons pulled a quick change and came out in the new camo uniforms for this match. Again to add a little more fire to the team.

Due to the draw this match would start at the 120 Pound weight class and go around and finish at 113.

120 Pounds — MMA did not send a wrestler to the mat. Farrell B. Wins by forfeit.  Score FMS 6  MMA 0.

126 Pounds — MMA would again fail to send a wrestler to the mat.  Lenardson wins by forfeit.  Score  FMS 12   MMA 0. 

132 Pounds — MMA elected to pull their wrestler and move him up  a weight class to avoid Morrison Rogers. Resulting in Biggie’s win by forfeit.   Score FMS 18   MMA  0.

138 Pounds — As Brandon Allen took to the mat the Coach made sure to remind him that they moved his opponent up in class to face him and not Biggie. He got the meaning. Result: Brandon Allen wins by PIN in the first period.    Score FMS 24    MMA  0.

145 Pounds — Norris took to the mat for FMS. Again with fire and desire he earned a pin in the first period.   Score FMS 30   MMA 0. 

152 Pounds — MMA would send their team captain to the mat to face James Park in this one and it would go a little longer but again with the same results. Park wins by pin in the second period.  Score FMS 36   MMA 0.

160 Pounds — Kyle Hale would take to the mat in this match and again it would be like the last ones as the Caissons were now rolling along. Hale would also win by pin in the first period. Score FMS 42   MMA 0.   

 The Team score was now officially over as MMA could not catch the Caissons, but FMS had another goal in mind. You could hear the murmurs now along the side of the mat every time another wrestler squared off…”Keep it a zero. Keep it a zero,” the Caissons told one another.

170 Pounds — MMA would fail to send a wrestler to the mat and Lind would win by forfeit. Team score FMS 48   MMA 0. 

182 pounds — for a second time MMA chose to pull a wrestler and move him up a weight so he would not have to face Michael Blackburn. Blackburn wins by forfeit.  Score  FMS 54 MMA 0 

195 Pounds — Brandon Campbell would take to the mat and wrestle the kid they moved up to avoid Blackburn, again Coach reminded Campbell that MMA felt this kid could beat him, that’s why they moved him up. Well, again, that idea back-fired resulting an a first period pin by Campbell.   Team Score FMS 60   MMA 0. 

220 Pounds — No one from MMA; so, Porter wins by forfeit. Score FMS 66  MMA 0. 

Now with just 3 matches to go the murmurs got louder… “Keep it a zero. Keep it a ZERO.”

MMA would send wrestlers to the mat in 2 of the last 3 weight classes in hopes of breaking the zero. 

285 Pounds — Here we would see and hear the toughest fought match of the night. Allen Davis would take to the mat giving up about 15 pounds and 6 inches in height to the wrestler from MMA.  The first period was a lot like a typical “big boy” match with not a lot of action but a lot of pushing and pulling. Towards the end of the first period the MMA wrestler came on a charge and his head slammed Davis in the mouth knocking out a tooth. The tooth was picked up. Davis was cleaned up and wrestling kept going (This showed what kind of match this was about to be). The first period ended in a dead lock 0-0 tie. Again, they would start on their feet but this period the tempo picked up a lot more then in the first. Both trying take downs and failing and still a lot of pushing and pulling. Then the MMA wrestler scored the first points with a take down going up 2 – 0 The second period would end just that way. In the third period Davis would score 1 point on an illegal hold by the MMA Wrestler making the score 2 – 1. Now the fans were going wild…it got louder and louder with chants of “Here we go Davis Here we go” over and over with feet stomping hands clapping, and strained voices screaming. Davis responded with an escape and 1 point making the score  now stand at 2 – 2. The rest of the third period would be like the others with lots of pushing and pulling but no more points…match over…but it’s TIE…now we’re headed to over time. First over time is called Sudden Victory and consists 1 min on your feet where the first take down wins. They went back and forth back and forth but no one scored again. Now its on to Double OT. this would consist of 2 30-second periods with each wrestler getting choice one time. The MMA wrestler had first choice and picked to be on their feet. The period started and the gym got LOUD. The MMA wrestler came at Davis hard with 10 seconds to go and Davis hit a counter and put the MMA Wrestler straight to his back and a whistle blew…A whistle blew???!!! What happened? A bad Whistle by the Official…he did not mean to blow the whistle but had stopped the match, so Davis could not get back points or the pin but did get the 2 points for a take down. Now leading 4 – 2 with 2 seconds left. Davis was on top and rode out the MMA wrestler for the last 2 seconds. Now its on to the second 30-second period. Davis had choice and had chose down. He kept trying to get up and the MMA kid did all he could to turn Davis over to his back. Davis knew all he had to do was NOT go to his back and he would secure the win. 5   4    3     2    1    BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Davis wins 4 -2 and the gym went wild.  Team Score FMS 69  MMA 0. 

The action would now go back to the bottom of the weights to finish up.

106 pounds — MMA would send no one to face Thomas Fosdick so he wins by forfeit.  Team Score  FMS 75,  MMA 0

The murmurs were now chants, yells and screams…”Come on! Keep it a zero!” 

113 pounds — The last match of the night and Joseph Baan would take to the mat and attempt to preserve the 0.  This match would go back and forth in the first period then in the second period Baan would turn over the MMA Wrestler and the gym was going wild.. could he do it.. would he…… He did!  Win by pin for Baan.   FINAL TEAM SCORE    FMS 81    MMA 0

After a great job by the Caissons, the Wrestling team now stands with one tournament championship and a Duel Match Season Record of 3 – 0. 

The Caissons travel to Front Royal next week to face RMA again and Rappahannock County High School.